Confolens

Confolens (Occitan: Confolents[1]) is a commune in southwestern France. Confolens is the administrative centre of a largely rural area, which has had an important growth of tourism in recent years.

Confolens

Confolens vue.JPG
View of Confolens from the Sainte-Catherine hill
Coat of arms of Confolens
Administration
Country France
Region Poitou-Charentes
Department Charente
Arrondissement Confolens
Canton Charente-Vienne
Intercommunality Confolentais
Mayor Jean-Noël Dupré
(2014-2020)
Statistics
Elevation 127–222 m (417–728 ft)
(avg. 152 m/499 ft)
Land area1 23.63 km2 (9.12 sq mi)
Population2 2,721  (2013)
 - Density 115/km2 (300/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 16106/ 16500
Website www.mairie-confolens.fr
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

It is one of the two subprefectures of the Charente department and the capital of the canton of Charente-Vienne.

History

On 1 January 2016, the former commune Saint-Germain-de-Confolens was merged with the commune of Confolens.[2]

Geography

Confolens is at the confluence of the Vienne and Goire rivers. The name of this place comes from the Latin word confluens that means "confluence".[3]

The city is at 65 km (40 mi) from Angoulême, 55 km (34 mi) from Limoges and 70 km (43 mi) from Poitiers, the three largest cities that are closest to Confolens.

It has an area of 23.63 km2 (9.12 sq mi) and its average altitude is 152 m (499 ft); at the city hall, the altitude is 150 m (490 ft).[4]

Confolens and its neighboring communes
 

The communes that are around Confolens are Brillac, Esse, Saint-Maurice-des-Lions, Ansac-sur-Vienne, Hiesse and Lessac.

Climate

The climate of Confolens, in the Köppen climate classification, is Cfb - Oceanic climate with template summers.

Population

With a population of 2,721,[5] Confolens has a population density of 115 inhabitants/km2.

The inhabitants of Confolens are known, in French, as Confolentais (women: Confolentaises).[6]

Administration

Confolens is a subprefecture of the Charente department since 1800. It is also the capital of the canton of Charente-Vienne.[7]

Gallery

People from Confolens

Twin cities

Confolens is a twin town of:[8]

Related pages

References

  1. "CHARANTA OCCITANA : los noms de las comunas". Confolentés occitan (in occitan). Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  2. Préfecture de la Charente (19 October 2015). "Recueil des actes administratifs" (PDF) (in français). Retrieved 16 July 2016..
  3. Nègre, Ernest (1990). Librairie Droz (ed.). Toponymie générale de la France (in français). Vol. 1. p. 298. ISBN 2-60002-883-8. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  4. "Confolens". Map-France.com. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  5. "Populations lègales 2013 - 16-Charente". Populations légales 2013 des départements et des collectivités d'outre-mer (in français). Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques - INSEE. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  6. "Charente (16)" (in français). habitants.fr. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  7. "Liste des cantons de l'arrondissement de Confolens" (in français). Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques - INSEE. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  8. "Jumelage" (in français). Ville de Confolens. Retrieved 15 July 2016.

Other websites